PERC 2013 Abstract Detail Page

The proper handling of data and its uncertainty is often an implicit learning outcome for many undergraduate physics labs. As educators, our ultimate goal is to have students be able to transfer all that we teach to novel situations. Our approach to teaching many of the basic statistical treatments of data involves the use of invention activities: designed to engage the students; intended to stimulate creative thinking; particularly brief and highly structured; and, meant to precede both explicit instruction and reinforcing practice. Such activities have been shown as useful support for the formation of an initial orderly schema (i.e., preparation for future learning). This poster will present the invention activity we use to teach how and when to calculate a weighted average, as well as evidence to support that our students are spontaneously transferring some of this knowledge to near-in-context but far-in-time problems.

Abstract Type:

Contributed Poster Presentation

Author/Organizer Information

Primary Contact:

James Day
Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia
6224 Agricultural Road
Vancouver,
Non U.S.
V6T 1Z1

Co-Author(s)and Co-Presenter(s)

Natasha Holmes, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British ColumbiaIdo Roll, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British ColumbiaDoug Bonn, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia